Deacons are first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (6:2-5). A deacon is a man who is called to a ministry of service. He is just like priests and Bishops. He receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders. He is called upon to live the Christian life visibly. He is an ordained person living in the lifestyle of the laity. A deacon usually serves the community in which he lives. Once ordained, whatever the deacon does is done not in his own name or by his own authority but on behalf of the church. He is acting in the name of Christ to and for the community he serves.
The deacon’s are members of the clergy. His role is aided by priests, preside over and govern the particular local churches. Well over 90 percent of deacons are married. The responsibility of husband and father, his job or profession by which he earns a living or supplements retirement income and his ministry as an ordained deacon a candidate for a permanent diaconate who is married must have completed his 35th year and have the consent of his wife. An unmarried man must not be admitted to the permanent diaconate unless he has completed his 25th year, and has manifested a desire to remain unmarried. In accord with canon 87 the local ordinary could dispense from the age
The jobs of the deacons are very interesting they are to assist the bishop and the priest during liturgical actions in all things, which the rituals of the different orders assign to him, he also has to administer baptism solemnly and to supply the ceremonies which may have been omitted when conferring it on children or adults. In the absence of a priest, to assist at and to bless marriages in the name the church by delegation from the bishop or pastor observing the rest of the requirement which are in the code of canon 1098 remaining firm and where what is said in regard to the priest is also to be understood in regard to the deacon.
They are also administer sacrament and to officiate at funeral and burial services, to preside at the worship and prayers of the people when a priest is not present they are also able to carry out, in the name of the hierarchy, the duties of charity and of ad ministries as well as workers of social assistance. The deacon is the assistants of the bishop and has the task of teaching and administering certain church functions, such as the distribution of food.
The deacon is probably most often recognized by his service of the altar. This is most obvious at Mass, but deacons witness marriages, baptize, preside at wakes
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